Bronze Polishing Results

[Kristal]

Jen, Crystal and I are spending a week on the Orwell, and, with nothing better to do with a brightish yet blustery day, and with Jen shopping in Norwich, I've been experimenting with the Verdigris-laden bronze up on deck.

Following some of the replies I had to a question I asked some time ago on the subject, I've been using a kitchen scourer and some citric acid formula kettle descaler to remove the verdigris (usually takes three attempts), followed by a thorough polishing with Hotspot Metal Polish. Here are the results:

Starboard side, untreated:

Port side, after about half an hour's work:

So the next thing to ask is - Varnish. I'm tempted to go with Epiphanes - any thoughts from seasoned varnishers?

Cheers,

/<

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.crystaltwo.co.uk/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[Guest]

Nice job! I missed the thread ref. polishing. Can you give me the recipe?

As regards varnish I have tried many and found Epifanes the best as it gives a beatutiful dark golden sheen. It does require sanding back after each coat.



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[Kristal]

Originally, Mirelle (and maybe others, I can't remember) suggested using kettle descaler for removing verdigris, so I tested several methods. Using Scale-Away, a citric formula (fairly mild, as opposed to the scary ones which use formic acid), I applied the descaling crystals to hand-hot water and wiped the winches with the solution, left them for ten minutes, and then went to work with a kitchen scourer. This was quite arduous, and it then took five polishes with Hot-Spot to bring up a deep shine.

I did the cleats, hit-and-miss vents etc. today too, and these I simply immersed in the acid solution (whilst at boiling temperature) and left them until the verdigris turned a dull red. It was then very easy indeed to get off the verdigris with a quick scour, although I think it will take longer to get the sort of shine on them I want.

The latter was so simple, that I'm half tempted to remove all the portlights and immerse them in a mild acid bath too, before polishing - they are currently so oxidised that they appear to be a shade of British Racing Green!

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<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.crystaltwo.co.uk/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[Kristal]

Bugger - they're going green already. So the next question is - having spent all that time making them gleam, is there any way to slow down the oxidisation? It's only been about 24 hours!

/<

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.crystaltwo.co.uk/>Crystal II in Pictures</A>

 

[Aja]

If these are the GIBB 8CR winches, my father has them on his boat. I tried the very same one idle summer's day. Dad said it was a waste of time.

It didn't last long.

Dont think they have been cleaned in 30 odd years.

Donald

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[Mirelle]

Various recipes

Pre-1914 favourite - unsalted butter. Lasts at least an afternoon. My uncle bought the Howard smack yacht "Alanna" from her paid hand, to whom she had been left by her owner, who was killed in WW1, and kept her at Burnham. For 2s 9d a week the former hand would:

1. Go on board and pump her, air sails, etc. as required during the week.

2. Put requested stores on board

3. Each Friday, scrub the decks, polish the brasswork, apply butter as aforesaid, remove the sail covers and meet Uncle Eric at the hard in the dinghy and pull him out to the boat.

4. Each Sunday, reverse process, take Uncle Eric to the hard, row back and put sail covers on, scrub decks, etc.

Who needs marinas when you get that sort of service for 2s 9d!

Other recipes - Vaseline - (slightly better than butter, but neither is much use on a winch! ) - thin coat of varnish - and the Ultimate Solution - GOLD PLATE them!

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?